1 Same-sex recognition: Civil unions for gay couples got the governor's signature in Colorado on Thursday, punctuating a dramatic turnaround in a state where voters banned same-sex marriage in 2006 and restricted protections for gays two decades ago. Cheers erupted as Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper signed the bill during a ceremony at the History Colorado Center near the state Capitol in Denver. Hundreds looked on, with many chanting "Equal! Equal!" The law takes effect May 1.

2 Supermajority: Democrats regained their supermajority in the California Senate after its newest member was sworn in Thursday. Ben Hueso of San Diego left the Assembly after winning the 40th Senate District seat in a special election this month. He replaces Democrat Juan Vargas, who won a congressional seat. In remarks to his colleagues Thursday in Sacramento, Hueso, the son of a Mexican immigrant, vowed to help "make California the best community in the world."

3 Drone tests: The state of Nevada recently joined the bidding to be named a federal test site for the commercial use of pilotless aircraft under a program that will allow as many as six states to test the controversial but potentially lucrative technology for a five-year period. Nevada is hoping its vast open spaces, powerful databanks and experience with military drones will help it stand out among the 37 states bidding for approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to test the commercial uses of drones.

4 Guilty plea: A 22-year-old man charged with beating a monkey to death at Boise, Idaho's zoo last year pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of theft and animal cruelty. Michael Watkins told police the Patas monkey attacked him as he was trying to set it free from Zoo Boise early in the morning of Nov. 17 and that he beat the monkey in the head with a tree branch in self-defense. Authorities alleged that Watkins tried to steal the monkey after a night of heavy drinking.

5 More drought: Government forecasters say much of the United States can expect a warm spring and persistent drought. The National Weather Service said Thursday that above-normal temperatures are predicted across most of the Lower 48 states and northern Alaska. The forecast also calls for little relief for the drought-stricken Midwest and Southwest. Currently, half the country is experiencing moderate to exceptional drought.

6 Abuse payments: Thirty-two former students of the Horace Mann School in the Bronx have said they were sexually abused by teachers and staff members and have been meeting with school officials to negotiate compensation, said a person knowledgeable about the talks. In June, an article in the New York Times Magazine recounted episodes of abuse at the school from the 1970s to the 1990s, citing accounts of several men who accused former teachers of having sex with them or trying to seduce them.